Sutera plant named &#39;KLESG15004&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Sutera  plant particularly distinguished by having large flowers with a light blue flower color, good quality and very good branching, is disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/390,712, as filed on Apr. 6, 2016, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference for all they teach and disclose.

Genus and species: Sutera grandiflora.

Variety denomination: ‘KLESG15004’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Sutera, botanically known as Sutera grandiflora, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLESG15004’. ‘KLESG15004’ originated from an open-pollination in the summer of 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany, between the proprietary female Sutera variety ‘SG-2011-0073’ (unpatented) and an unknown male Sutera variety.

In August of 2011, seed was collected from the open-pollination cross of two Sutera parental lines, ‘SG-2011-0073’ and an unknown Sutera in Stuttgart, Germany. The seeds were sown in February 2012 and plants were grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in May 2012 and subsequently named ‘KLESG15004’. In May 2012, ‘KLESG15004’ was first vegetatively propagated by in-vitro cultivation in Stuttgart, Germany and in Italy. ‘KLESG15004’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via in-vitro cultivation.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Large flowers with a light blue flower color;     -   2. Good flower quality; and     -   3. Very good branching.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Sutera plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph, which shows an overall view of the plant. The photograph is of a 13-week-old plant grown in Stuttgart, Germany in July of 2013. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLESG15004’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on 10-week-old plants after potting, grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Stuttgart, Germany in June of 2016. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2005).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Scrophulariaceae.         -   Botanical.—Sutera grandiflora.         -   Common.—Sutera.         -   Designation.—‘KLESG15004’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Sutera line ‘SG-2011-0073’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—An unknown Sutera line. -   Plant:     -   -   Habit.—Trailing, flat.         -   Height.—3.0 cm to 5.0 cm.         -   Spread.—40.0 cm.         -   Life cycle.—Blooms from spring until September.         -   Form.—Trailing, round.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Four weeks.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—First flowers could be             observed after 3 weeks. Finished product is after 9 to 10             weeks.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—About 7 days.         -   Rooting habit.—Fine, fibrous roots.         -   Root color.—White to cream white. -   Stems:     -   -   Number of stems per plant.—5.         -   Length.—26.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 138A.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single, opposite.         -   Type.—Simple.         -   Number of leaves per branch.—About 30, depends on the age of             the plant.         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Shape.—Ovate, acute angle to the stem.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Length.—2.2 cm.         -   Width.—2.0 cm.         -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 138A Lower surface:             RHS 138D Mature leaf: Upper surface: RHS N137C Lower             surface: RHS 138A.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery Lower surface: Leathery.         -   Venation type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N137C Lower surface: RHS             138A.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.7 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Texture: Smooth             Color: RHS N137A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Freely flowering.         -   Quantity of inflorescence per stem.—About 12.         -   Type of inflorescence.—Flowers are often solitary, most             often 2 flowers per node are developed, persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring until September.         -   Fragrance.—Flower is not fragrant, but foliage has the             typical Sutera fragrance.         -   Pedicel.—Color: RHS 138A Length: About 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.1             cm Texture: Pubescent Strength: Moderate.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 6.0 cm to 10.0 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm Color:             RHS 137D Texture: Pubescent Strength: Moderate.         -   Corolla (flower).—Bud: Shape: Tubular Diameter: 0.4 cm             Length: 0.6 cm Color (at tight bud): RHS 157A (by maturing             it changes to RHS 112D).         -   Type and shape.—Single-type, nearly round, lower part tube             and funnel shaped formed by 5 fused petals, upper part is             salver shaped formed by the partly free petal lobes.         -   Corolla, horizontal diameter.—2.2 cm.         -   Corolla, total length.—0.5 cm. Color of throat: Inner             surface: RHS 23A Outer surface: RHS 23C.         -   Funnel/tube.—Length: 0.5 cm Diameter: 0.4 cm Texture of             funnel: Inner surface: Smooth Outer surface: Smooth.         -   Petal (lobes).—Length: 0.9 cm Width: 0.7 cm Apex: Rounded             tips Base: Fused Margin: Entire Color: Inner surface: RHS             91D Outer surface: RHS 91C Texture: Upper surface: Smooth             Lower surface: Smooth.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement and appearance: Whorl of 5 sepals             surrounding the base of the flower tube, sepals are fused at             the base Sepals: Color: Upper surface: RHS 137D Lower             surface: RHS 137D Length: 0.6 cm Width: 0.1 cm Shape: Apex:             Acute Base: Fused Margin: Entire Texture: Upper and lower             surfaces: Densely pubescent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 4 Filament: Color: RHS 155B Length: 0.5             cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Anther color: RHS 23A Pollen amount:             Abundant Pollen color: RHS 23A.         -   Pistil.—Quantity per flower: 1 Length: 1.3 cm Stigma color:             RHS 145C Style color: RHS 145D Style length: 0.8 cm Ovary             color: RHS 145D. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLESG15004’ is distinguished from its female parent as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Line Variety Female parent Trait ‘KLESG15004’ ‘SG-2011-0073’ Flower color Light blue Lavender Branching Very good Bad

‘KLESG15004’ is most similar to the Sutera plant named ‘KLESG14831’ (U.S. application No. 14/545,976). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Trait ‘KLESG15004’ ‘KLESG14831’ Flower color Light Blue Blue 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Sutera plant named ‘KLESG15004’ as illustrated and described herein. 